ABT: Summer 2026 season, Misty on board of trustees, Fabrice Calmels to guest, Giving Tuesday Challenge
- Ikuko
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
American Ballet Theatre (ABT) announced its summer 2026 season at the Metropolitan Opera House, including the new staging of Don Quixote and popular full -length ballets, on 17th November 2025.
The summer season will open with Kevin McKenzie's Swan Lake, followed by John Cranko's Onegin. The new staging of Don Quixote by Artistic Director Susan Jaffe and Susan Jones will premiere on 29th June, with Catherine Hurlin as Kitri and Isaac Hernández as Basilio. The last programme will be Frederick Ashton's Sylvia.
Several celebration events will be held during the season, including Isabella Boylston 20th Anniversary and ABT Conductors Celebration.
On 19th November, it was announced Misty Copeland, the recently retired principal, has joined ABT’s Board of Trustees.
"As a Trustee, Copeland will help guide ABT’s long-term strategic priorities, support the organization’s financial and operational strength, and champion ABT’s mission, values, and impact, including ABT RISE (Representation, Immersion, Sustainability, Excellence), the Company’s commitment to representation, belonging, and holistic well-being across education, training, and performance," the ABT news statement said.
Earlier on 3rd November, ABT announced main castings for its spring season. French dancer Fabrice Calmels will join the company as a Guest Artist during the Spring season, dancing the title role in Lar Lubovitch’s Othello. He is 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) and holds the Guinness World Record for the Tallest Ballet Dancer, according to his biography page. His Instagram post says his height reached 6 feet 7 inches when he was 18.
Meanwhile, ABT is running ABT’s Giving Tuesday Challenge.
The website says:
" Each donation of $25 or more through December 2 supports ABT and brings us closer to unlocking a new challenge video…
At 25 donations, you’ll see an ABT dancer complete 25 continuous Coupé Jeté Manège!
50 donations brings you 50 Piqué and Chaîné Turns in a Manège!
After 100 donations, a dancer will hold a 60 second Balance à la Seconde on Pointe!"
